fly.com me to the moon
18 Sep 2009 1 Comment
in travel Tags: cheap flights, fly.com, saving money
Travelzoo is a great resource for travel fans* and I think their latest UK venture has a lot of potential. Fly.com was launched in the UK today and it looks like this new flight search engine is going to be very useful, at least if the US version’s success is anything to go by.
The NY Times has praised the American version – which became one of the most-visited flight websites in the States – for its ease and simplicity of use, as well as its speed. Fly.com searches hundreds of airlines (both standard and no-frills) and online travel agents such as Ebookers. Those are pretty important considerations if, like me, you want to get the best info and get it quickly (and if you love travelling and getting value for your hard-earned money).
I just did a quick search for flights between Manchester and Cape Town for next year’s World Cup on Fly.com, and the cheapest ones listed are still more than £800. Are there cheaper options available at the moment? And do we take the plunge now and buy what’s available, or do we take the risk, wait it out and hope for a stroke of luck with an upcoming flight sale?
* If you’re not yet one of the 1.5 million Brits signed up to receive Travelzoo’s Top 20 newsletter on a Wednesday, then you’re definitely missing out. I’ve booked some great deals on the back of that newsletter and always enjoyed my stay (and saving money). Next up? Paris in November…
bargains for paris anniversary weekend break – c’est magnifique!
09 Sep 2009 2 Comments
in travel Tags: france, manchester, paris, travelzoo
Being a travel industry expert, Chris was quick to spot a bargain last week when Air France had some cheap flights available. We swiftly booked return tickets from Manchester to Paris for £79 pp (including taxes) so we can spend one night in Paris to celebrate our fourth year together.
This will be our first return to Paris since we had our very first mini-break as a couple there back in the early days of our relationship. That trip was my first visit to the city of lights and I instantaneously fell in love with all things French. We’ve since visited other parts of France as well, such as Provence and the Cote d’Azur, and I’m pleased to say we’ve come a long way in terms of travelling in style.
Chris and I at the Arc de Triomphe during our first visit to Paris
Back in 2006, it was all about being on a budget. Chris and I took a Eurolines coach from London to Paris which took about 7 hours. It was cheap as chips but surprisingly comfortable too, especially because we could disembark and walk around on the ferry when we crossed the Channel.
Our accommodation was also picked based on its proximity to Montmartre and – you guessed it – price. TripAdvisor’s reviewers will give you a good idea of what Friends Hostel was like. We were in a private room during our stay, with its own tiny shower room, so we enjoyed enough privacy and comfort. Besides, we were there to explore and enjoy Paris, so spent as little time as possible in our room.
But this time round, we will only be in Paris for one night and because we have now ticked off all the major sights from our to-see list, our priorities are slightly different. Enter the fantastic Travelzoo Top 20 (I’m biased because Chris works for them, but still). Thanks to this newsletter, we have now booked a great hotel for more than 50% cheaper than its usual rate. And wait for it… our room will have a view of either the Eiffel Tower or my beloved Sacre Coeur! A free Seine river cruise is also thrown into the deal – something we’ve not done before – so I’m even more excited now than before.
Sacre Coeur in Montmartre, Paris
This also means I’ve dusted off my teach-yourself-French kit and I’m newly inspired to impress on my next trip. J’adore Paris!
samuel l jackson knows good travel
08 Sep 2009 Leave a Comment
in south africa, travel
Samuel L Jackson knows to go to Cape Town for golf
“It’s got great golf courses, gorgeous beaches, fun restaurants and delicious fresh fish. I’m a seafood man,” he explained.
Now, being a Cape Town girl, I agree with the guy. My top tips for Samuel when he’s next in Cape Town are:
Golf – Erinvale in Somerset West (course designed by Gary Player – and where we had our wedding reception)
Beaches - Clifton (the water is freezing but the beach and the people are beautiful)
Restaurant - Moyo @ Spier (great food, great atmosphere)
Fresh fish - Houtbay harbour (where the locals go)
Give me a call when you’re in the area next time Samuel, I’ll hook you up!
my pringle bay guide
01 Sep 2009 Leave a Comment
in travel
21 July 2009
I’ve written another guide that has been published on Simonseeks. Sticking to places I love in South Africa, this time I’m guiding visitors to Pringle Bay. This really is a hidden gem, and I hope my revelation of its beauty, peace and quiet doesn’t shatter the idyll for locals!
We spent our first weekend as a married couple here and loved it. It was the perfect place to unwind after the hectic time leading up to the wedding day. It’s a fantastic bonus that Pringle Bay is only about an hour’s drive from Cape Town, and under half an hour from my parents’.
Read my guide here.
take a walk on the wild side in cape town
01 Sep 2009 Leave a Comment
in travel
5 July 2009
I love South Africa and I love sharing some of its best and most beautiful features with others. I recently joined Tripadvisor to start writing reviews about hotels and places we visit, but soon after posting my first review, Simonseeks launched.
The brain child of the founder of moneysupermarket.com, the idea is similar to Tripadvisor’s but offers better layout, more of a community feel and, interestingly, the opportunity to earn cash if you write popular guides. Now since this was in line with what I do for a living (writing online copy tailored for great search engine results) and gave me the chance to write about some of the fabulous places I’m lucky to have been able to visit, it was a no-brainer.
I’ve submitted a couple of guides so far and have loads of ideas that are just waiting to be bashed out on the laptop, but wanted to share the first one that was published on Simonseeks on my blog.
It wasn’t until Chris (now my husband, then my boyfriend) first visited South Africa that I realised there’s actually quite a bit of wildlife in and around Cape Town. Growing up, the idea of sharing False Bay with monstrous Great White sharks was nothing too extraordinary, and the sight of dassies, jackass penguins and seals was common. However, the fact that these creatures live in and around a metropolitan city such as Cape Town is actually pretty special.
Read my guide here. Keep an eye on these guys – this site is going to be big!
guide to the lake district
01 Sep 2009 Leave a Comment
in travel
22 June 2009
I’ve fallen back in love with writing and try to do as much of it as possible at the moment. Writing is even more enjoyable when I write about my favourite things, like travelling. Here is a guide I wrote on the Lake District following our recent visit to Windermere. I just loved everything about the area and would love to go back to the Lakes soon, preferably somewhere other than Windermere which turned out to be quite touristy.
